--- NATIONAL WAGES ---
  total_employment : 22,300
  annual_median    : $122,570
  annual_pct10     : $67,000
  annual_pct25     : $86,620
  annual_pct75     : $161,890
  annual_pct90     : $195,190
  annual_mean      : $129,230
  hourly_median    : $58.93

--- GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION ---
  highest_state    : District of Columbia ($156,730)
  lowest_state     : Indiana ($68,670)
  dispersion_ratio : 2.282x

--- TOP STATES BY WAGE (40 total) ---
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:   11,600  median: $ 126,440
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:    4,400  median: $ 128,720
  Educational Services                     emp:    4,050  median: $  83,200
  Manufacturing                            emp:    1,380  median: $ 178,720
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:      400  median: $ 176,440
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:      210  median: $ 133,980
  Wholesale Trade                          emp:       90  median: $ 126,510
  Utilities                                emp:       60  median: $ 105,830

--- TOP INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT (8 total) ---
  Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) emp:   11,600  median: $ 126,440
  Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services emp:    4,400  median: $ 128,720
  Educational Services                     emp:    4,050  median: $  83,200
  Manufacturing                            emp:    1,380  median: $ 178,720
  Management of Companies and Enterprises  emp:      400  median: $ 176,440
  Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services emp:      210  median: $ 133,980
  Wholesale Trade                          emp:       90  median: $ 126,510
  Utilities                                emp:       60  median: $ 105,830

exact_match_status : no_exact_match
matched_title      : N/A
match_score        : 0.0000
wikidata_qid       : N/A
word_count         : 0
wikipedia_url      : N/A
license            : CC BY-SA 4.0
fetched_at         : 2026-06-02T20:49:04.936614Z

--- SEMANTIC NEIGHBORS (5) ---

  Title: Outline of physical science (similarity: 0.5263)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_physical_science
  QID: Q14632398
  Extract: Physical science is a branch of natural science that studies non-living systems, in contrast to life science. It in turn has many branches, collectively referred to as the physical sciences.

  Title: Natural science (similarity: 0.4000)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_science
  QID: Q7991
  Extract: Natural science or empirical science is a branch of science concerned with the description, understanding, and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer review and reproducibility of findings are used to try to ensure t

  Title: Physical quantity (similarity: 0.5532)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_quantity
  QID: Q107715
  Extract: A physical quantity is a property of a material or system that can be quantified by measurement. A physical quantity can be expressed as a value, which is a pair of a numerical value and a unit of measurement. For example, the physical quantity mass, symbol m, can be quantified as m=n kg, where n is

  Title: List of cryptids (similarity: 0.3043)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptids
  QID: Q16322
  Extract: Cryptids are animals or other beings whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science. Cryptozoology, the study of cryptids, is a pseudoscience claiming that such beings may exist somewhere in the wild; it has been widely critiqued by scientists. The subculture is regularly criticiz

  Title: Physical system (similarity: 0.5778)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_system
  QID: Q1454986
  Extract: A physical system is a collection of physical objects under study. The collection differs from a set; the objects must coexist and have some physical relationship.
In other words, it is a portion of the physical universe chosen for analysis. Everything outside the system is known as the environment,

model_pass1          : claude-sonnet-4-20250514
model_pass2          : claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
inference_confidence : medium
confidence_notes     : Limited detailed occupational data due to catch-all nature of classification, but wage data and industry distribution provide solid foundation for market intelligence and career insights.
inferred_at          : 2026-06-03T15:45:57.397574+00:00
tokens_input         : 2,190
tokens_output        : 3,180
cost_usd             : $0.032580
wikipedia_used       : False
wikipedia_title      : None
wikipedia_note       : No exact Wikipedia match found, though 'Physical quantity' and 'Outline of physical science' provide relevant context about the measurement and classification of physical phenomena that these scientists study.

--- PROSE FIELDS ---

ROLE SUMMARY:
Physical Scientists, All Other encompasses specialized researchers in physical sciences who work in niche areas not covered by standard classifications. They apply scientific principles to study non-living systems, conducting research across diverse fields from materials science to environmental physics. With median salaries of $122,570 (BLS OEWS May 2025), they represent a high-skilled professional category requiring advanced scientific training.

DAY IN THE LIFE:
These scientists design and conduct experiments to investigate physical phenomena in their specialized domains. They analyze data using advanced instrumentation and computational methods, often developing new measurement techniques or materials. Research activities include writing grant proposals, publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting results at scientific conferences. Many collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on complex projects requiring specialized physical science expertise. Documentation and reporting of experimental procedures and results forms a significant portion of their work.

WHO THRIVES:
Individuals who excel in this field typically possess strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with deep curiosity about natural phenomena. They demonstrate patience for methodical research processes and attention to detail in experimental design and data collection. Successful practitioners often have strong mathematical backgrounds and enjoy working with complex instrumentation and emerging technologies. The ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with diverse research teams is essential, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting technical findings to various audiences.

CAREER ENTRY:
Entry typically requires a doctoral degree in a physical science discipline such as physics, chemistry, materials science, or related specialized fields. Advanced coursework in mathematics, statistics, and research methodology is essential, along with hands-on laboratory experience through graduate research. Some positions may accept master's degree holders with extensive research experience or specialized technical expertise in emerging fields.

CAREER TRAJECTORY:
Career advancement often leads to senior research scientist positions, principal investigator roles, or research management positions overseeing teams and large-scale projects. Many transition into academic positions as professors or research faculty, while others move into executive roles in R&D organizations or government agencies. Entrepreneurial paths include founding technology startups or consulting firms based on specialized expertise.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE:
The field employs 22,300 professionals nationwide with a median annual salary of $122,570, ranging from $67,000 to $195,190 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Geographic variation is substantial, with Washington DC offering the highest compensation at $156,730 compared to Indiana's $68,670, representing a 2.28x differential. Government employment dominates with 11,600 positions, followed by professional services (4,400) and educational institutions (4,050). The specialized nature of these roles often correlates with proximity to research institutions, federal agencies, or technology hubs.

AUTOMATION OUTLOOK:
The complex problem-solving and creative research design aspects of this work provide strong protection against automation. While data analysis tools and laboratory automation may enhance productivity, the fundamental research activities requiring scientific judgment and experimental innovation remain distinctly human capabilities.

--- REASONED EDGES ---
  [skill_overlap] Physicists (19-2012.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both roles require advanced understanding of physical principles and experimental design methodologies.
    data: shared physical science foundation
    data: similar research methodologies
  [knowledge_overlap] Chemists (19-2031.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Overlapping knowledge domains in materials science and analytical techniques common to both disciplines.
    data: materials analysis
    data: laboratory instrumentation
  [task_similarity] Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (19-1042.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Similar research design, grant writing, and publication activities across scientific disciplines.
    data: research methodology
    data: scientific publication
  [career_pathway] Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other (19-4099.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Technician roles often serve as entry points before advancing to full scientist positions.
    data: laboratory experience pathway
    data: skill development progression
  [career_pathway] Physics Teachers, Postsecondary (25-1054.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Academic career transition common for doctoral-level physical scientists.
    data: educational services employment
    data: advanced degree requirement

--- NORMALIZER SIGNALS ---
  match_keywords   : ['physical scientist', 'research scientist', 'materials scientist', 'applied physicist', 'experimental scientist', 'government scientist', 'laboratory researcher', 'scientific researcher']
  exclude_keywords : ['technician', 'teacher', 'engineer', 'analyst', 'coordinator']
  title_patterns   : ['Physical Scientist', 'Research Scientist', 'Senior Scientist', 'Principal Scientist', 'Staff Scientist']
  common_variations: ['Physical Scientist', 'Research Physical Scientist', 'Senior Physical Scientist', 'Principal Physical Scientist', 'Staff Physical Scientist', 'Government Physical Scientist', 'Research Scientist - Physical Sciences', 'Applied Physical Scientist']

total_terms    : 40
top_words      : ['physical', 'research', 'science', 'scientific', 'specialized', 'scientists', 'natural', 'many', 'phenomena', 'quantity', 'measurement', 'value', 'study', 'findings', 'numerical', 'unit', 'cryptids', 'collection', 'materials', 'requiring']
source_layers  : onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference

TERM                    COUNT     FREQ  DOMINANT SOURCE      SOURCE BREAKDOWN
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
physical                   18  0.04186  wikipedia            wikipedia:56%  inference:44%
research                   13  0.03023  inference            inference:100%
science                    12  0.02791  wikipedia            wikipedia:58%  inference:42%
scientific                  7  0.01628  inference            inference:57%  wikipedia:43%
specialized                 7  0.01628  inference            inference:100%
scientists                  6  0.01395  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
natural                     4  0.00930  wikipedia            wikipedia:75%  inference:25%
many                        4  0.00930  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
phenomena                   4  0.00930  inference            inference:75%  wikipedia:25%
quantity                    4  0.00930  wikipedia            wikipedia:75%  inference:25%
measurement                 4  0.00930  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
value                       4  0.00930  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
study                       4  0.00930  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
findings                    3  0.00698  inference            inference:67%  wikipedia:33%
numerical                   3  0.00698  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
unit                        3  0.00698  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
cryptids                    3  0.00698  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
collection                  3  0.00698  wikipedia            wikipedia:67%  inference:33%
materials                   3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
requiring                   3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
advanced                    3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
design                      3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
teams                       3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
complex                     3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
expertise                   3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
experimental                3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
strong                      3  0.00698  inference            inference:100%
branch                      2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
non                         2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
living                      2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
sciences                    2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
empirical                   2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
evidence                    2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
peer                        2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:50%  inference:50%
quantified                  2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
symbol                      2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
animals                     2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
beings                      2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
regularly                   2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
criticized                  2  0.00465  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%